Support for brushes and like articles



Apri 7, 1942. c.,M. DRINKWATER SUPPORT FOR BRUSHES AND LIKEARTICLESFiled June 29, '1958 Patented Apr. 7, 1942 i corriera SUPPORT FORBRUSHES AND LIKE I ARTICLES -V Charles M. Drinkwater, Chicago, Ill.,assigner to Wabash Screen Door Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofMinnesota Applicaticncune 29,193s,seria1No.216,615 A 3 Claims.

My invention has for its object the provision o a supporting frame and aset of spring clips supported by said frame and arranged to severallyengage the handles of brushes or like articles which it may be desirableto support in such manner and provide for ready engagement anddisengagement of a particular one of them. The specific embodiment of myinvention which is illustrated in the drawing and will hereinafter beparticularly described is a paint brush receptacle adapted to receive anumber of paint brushes which it may be desired to protect againstcaking or drying out of the paint between the bristles of the brush overnight, or between periods of painting, by submerging them in water orturpentine, or other liquid having a preservative or conditioningaction. Containers of this general description are well known, and mypresent invention relates more particularly to the specific constructionand arrangement of the supporting frame members and the specialconstruction of the clip members associated therewith which are noveland useful in efficiently attaining the objects in view in theparticular structure described. It will nevertheless be understood thatmy invention, and certain features of construction and arrangement ofparts thereof, may be used for other and different objects and purposesthan as a paint brush container or a portion thereof, and that Icontemplate such other uses as within the true scope of my invention,as, for instance, use of the supporting frame as a counter-display standfor exhibiting brushes or other articles capable of being supported bythe clips, or the use of the form of clip member particularly devisedfor use in connection with the supporting frame as a clip for holdingpa' pers together, o-r for other purposes for which such a clip may beused.

With the foregoing explanation, it will be understood that my inventionresides in the form, arrangement and construction of the variousmechanical parts and members hereinafter described, arranged tocooperate with each other as set forth, and adapted thereby to serve thepurposes particularly mentioned, as well as when used to accomplishsimilar purposes in analogous structures, the essential elements of myinvention being more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, which illustrates a particular embodiment of myinvention in a preferred form, Figure l is a perspective View of thecasing of a paint brush container, partly broken away to show inelevation a supporting frame equipped with a set of clips suitablyvformed to cooperate with the oriced cross-member of the frame; Fig. 2 isa perspective of one of the gripping members of a clip, deta-ched; Fig,3 isa frag mentary, horizontal section through the two webs of theoricedcrossbar member of the frame, showing one spring clip in closed,rearward position and another such clip in forward, released position;Fig. 4 is a side View of a clip seated in aligned orices of thecrossbar, the bar being shown in section; and Fig. 5 is a horizontalfragmentary section in a plane indicated by the dotted line 5-5 of Fig.3, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in all the figures of thedrawing.

Describing more particularly the specific construction of the embodimentof my invention illustrated, the container is in the present instance,though not necessarily, rectangular in shape, and is formed with aliquid-tight container body'having a bottom l and side walls 2, and ahinged cover 3 or top member, and may be equipped, as shown, with ahandle and closure means.

The supporting frame is constructed of sheet metal strips connectedtogether by spot welding or rivets and includes a base strip 4 fittingsomewhat loosely within the confines of the container sides 2, and avertical bracket having side members 5-5 connected at their bottom tosaid base strip and connected at their top by a cross-strip 6 which maybe formed integral with the side members 5, and which serves as aconvenient handle for lifting the frame out of the container, andreplacing it. In the present instance the side members and cross-stripextend above the sides of the container, and are contained within thecover 3 of the container when it is closed.

The side members 5 of the frame are connected below .the cross-strip 6by a crossbar bracket structure I which, in the present instance, thoughnot necessarily, is an integral member, U-shaped in cross section andthe spaced side flanges or webs of which are formed with aligned frontorifices 8 and rearV orifices 9 to receive the spring clips later to bedescribed.A It may here be stated that the arrangement and proportionsof the parts is such that the bristles of brushes supported in the clipsWill extend downwardly and be submerged in the liquid standing in thecontainer, while the handles of the brushes will eX- tend upwardly andlie within the connes of the cover when closed.

The clips which are vmounted in the aligned orifices of the crossbar 'Iconsist each of two gripping members I which, in the present instance,are precise facsimiles of each other, and a spring Il, which serves tospace and pivotally connect the gripping members and also to stress thejaws to closed position. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the grippingmembers are each formed with a forward jaw portion I2 and anintermediate pivotal portion I3 and a rear handle portion I4, all saidportions being in the present instance provided on both sides with acontinuous flange, the portions of the flanges opposite the portions I2,I3 and I4 of the gripping member being marked, respectively, |2a, |33'and |4. It will be noted that the vjaw portion I2 and the flanges I28Lwhich forma part of one clip member are bowed outwardly away from suchparts of the other member in an assembled clip, and the edges of theflanges |25 are of such contour as to form efficient gripping faces .onopposite sides of an interposed paint brush handle of ordinary size andshape.

Obviously, if the sections .|2, I3 and :I4 were formed of thesame width,with .the flanges .|2a, Ia and I4a `in .longitudinal 'alignment in .thesame plane, thefmeeting edges-cfa pair of Aclip members, assembled withtheirfflanges `in overlapping contact on opposite sides, would notoppose each other in precise alignment, but would be offset vfromeachother a distancethe thickness of the flanges. In orderltoprovidefortrue alignment of the clip members .at theforward endsthereof, the'forward section `I2 ofitheclip members is tapered inwardly.on one side .towards the center line of the clip from rear to front, theother sidebeing in .longitudinal alignment with corresponding sides.ofthe intermediate and rear portion of the clipmember, so that Awhen apair of clip membersA are yassembled as'shown in'Fig. 4, the forwardends ci the `jaw portion :I2 and flange portion I2a contiguous theretowill 4precisely oppose eachother. The clip may be otherwise formed-tobringf about exact alignment of their meeting fends as by merely.offsetting laterally the forw-ard sections I2 and flanges I2a Vof thetwo members,-;of uniform width with the other sectionsf-one-half theItl'iickness Lof vthe flanges,'towardslthementer line of the clip.

From a point near therear side of the j awaportion I2 of each grippingmember :is` struck out a rearwardly `extending tonguefl which at itsbase is formed with aftransverse bend or spring-endretaining recess I6,the free rear end `I'I Of the tongue terminatingnear the rear `of rtheintermediate portion I3 ofthe gripping member, and being bentinwardlysofthat when thetwogrip- `ping `members of a clip 'are assembledthe two tongues will meet atan acute angle :centrally between themembers.

The intermediate portion I3 oteach vgripping member, adjacent -the innerend of the handle portion I4, is formed with a cross-bend `or bearingrecess I8 extending between theflanges |321, the recess beingcylindrically curved and of such dimensions that in an-assembled clipthe coiled portion `I9 of the spring IIvwill lie between and spaceapart-the proximate flanges .|321 of the two gripping members, andalso'will serve as a pivot member or fulcrum upon which the members mayrock. If preferred, -the coil may be so formed -astoexert byaxialexpansion a slight stress tending to yieldinglyholdthe inner anges3a `of the gripping members against the outer ones at opposite sides oftheclip. In any event the coil of the springserves to vpreventrelativelateral displacement of the clip members.

At opposite ends of the coil I9 the spring is formed with straightportions 20, terminating in right-angled bends 2|, adapted to severallyengage the transverse bends I6 of the tongues I5 of the gripping memberswhen the coil I9 is seated in the opposed bearing recesses I8 of theintermediate portions of the gripping members, and stress the jawstoward each other.

It may here be mentioned that in the assembled clip the handle portionsare divergent rearwardly of their point of contact in the rear opening Sof the bracket structure when the clip is in closed position, and thatforwardly of the bearing recesses of the intermediate portions, suchportions have divergent outer faces to their points of contact with theside faces of the front openings 8 of the cross-bracket.

The method of assembling the parts of the clip may now be described. Thebends 2| of the spring I9, it will be understood, in theuntensioned-spring extend from thevportions 20 parallel and neartogether. A pair of the gripping members being assembled with their jawsmeeting and their flange portions |33 and I4a overlapping and touchingeach other, and the free ends of the tongues I5 meeting at an acuteangle centrally between the members,`the spring is inserted and forcedto assembled position from the rear, the bends 2| of the spring ridingonthe outer faces of the tongues until they arrive lat their seats inthetransverse :bendsor recesses IG at the base thereof, and the coil of thespring being yieldingly forced past the `rear edges of the bea-ringrecesses I 8 until it seats in such recesses. The tension of the springvwill then serve to maintain the-parts in assembled relation, andApermit a tensioned opening of the jaws of the clip by Ysqueezing thehandle portions thereof together. Throughout this opening and closingmovement of the jaws the flanges I3a and I4a of the gripping membersserve to guide their movements, and the coil I9 `of the springpreventsdisengagement of the parts laterally.

The spring clips, constructed as above described, areassembled in theorifices of the rcrossbar 'I, b-y springing thehandle portions of theclips together sufficiently to be inserted from the front through thefront orifices 8 and rear orifices 9. It maybe noted that when the clipsare inclosed or clamping position, the outer faces of the clip membersare incontact with the edges of the orifices, and are thereby heldagainst opening movement.

When the divergent handle portions of the clip are squeezed together, toovercome the tension of the spring and positively rock `the members ofthe clip onfthe coil of the spring as a pivot, the reaction between thedivergent outer faces of the intermediate portions I3 of the clip andthe adjacent edges of the forward opening 8 of the bracket will tend tocamfthe clip forwardly,-assisted to some extent, it may be, by forwardmanual pressure on the handle portions,-and the clip will thus beshifted forwardly and the jaws opened.

If the clip be thus manipulated to move the clip forwardly to nearly orquite the full extent of movement permitted it, and the pressure uponthe handle portions then released, the angle'between the outer faces ofthe handle portions and the edges of the-rear openings S will be soobtuse that the spring tension will not result in any camming actiontending to shift the clip rearwardly, and the clip will stand in forwardposition with the Yjaws open. A brush may then be inserted (or replaced)in the clip simply by inserting the handle between the open jaws andshifting it rearwardly, the handle portions becoming increasinglydivergent until during the latter part of the closing movement of thejaws, the spring exerts a camming reaction between the outer faces ofthe handle portions and the edges of the rear orice tending toautomatically assist complete closing of the jaws.

The clip may, however, be movedV forwardly in the openings in thebracket only sufficiently to partially open the jaws, and in such case,after the handles have been released, the stress of the spring will tendto close the jaws and spread the handles, and the camming action thusexerted through the handles will act to shift the clip rearwardly andautomatically close the jaws.

To permit the supporting frame to be supported at an elevated positionin the container,

' which may be convenient at times for ease in yinspection or adjustingthe brushes to proper position or for other reasons, as for conveniencein removingr brushes for use, I have provided a supporting hook 22secured to the rear member of the base strip 4 of the frame .andarranged to hook over the upper edge of the rear wall of the container.

I claim:

1. A support for brushes or other articles comprising a frame includinga horizontal cross bracket structure including vertically disposedparallel front and rear webs formed with aligned front and rearopenings, and a set of spring clips seated in said openings, said clipscomprising a pair of pivotally-connected spring-tensioned grippingmembers each formed with opposed jaw portions and intermediate portionsproviding a pivotal connection and divergent handle portions, saidhandle portions extending rearwardly of said pivotal connection throughsaid rear opening and said intermediate portions being severally formedwith divergent outer faces eX- tending forwardly of said pivotalconnection through said front opening, said divergent faces of saidintermediate portion tending to cam said clip forwardly when said handleportions are positively squeezed together and the outer faces of saidhandle portions tending to cam said clip rearwardly by tension of thespring.

2. A support for brushes or other articles oomprising a frame includinga horizontal cross bracket structure including vertically disposedparallel front and rear webs formed with aligned front and rearopenings, and a set of spring clips seated in said openings, said clipscomprising a `pair of pivotally-connected spring-tensioned grippingmembers each formed with opposed jaw portions and intermediate portionsproviding a pivotal connection and divergent handle portions, saidhandle portions extending rearwardly of said pivotal connection throughsaid rear opening and said intermediate portions being severally formedwith divergent outer faces extending forwardly of said pivotalconnection through said front opening, the side edges of said front andrear openings cooperating respectively with the divergent handleportions and the divergent outer faces of said intermediate portions ofthe particular clip to guide said clip and permit a forward opening ofthe clip and a rearward closing movement thereof.

A support for brushes or other articles comprising a frame including ahorizontal cross bracket structure including vertically disposedparallel front and rear webs formed with aligned front and rearopenings, and a set of spring clips seated in said openings, said clipscomprising a pair of pivotally-connected spring-tensioned grippingmembers each formed with opposed jaw portions and intermediate portionsproviding a pivotal connection and divergent handle portions, saidhandle portions extending rearwardly of said pivotal connection throughsaid rear opening and said intermediate portions being severally formedwith divergent outer faces extending forwardly of said pivotalconnection through said front opening, the upper and lower faces of saidgripping members making sliding engagement with the upper and loweredges of said aligned openings and the side edges of said openingcooperating with the outer divergent faces of said intermediate portionsand handle portions, respectively, to block pivotal movement of suchportions when the gripping members are in closed rearward position, andpermit pivotal movement `of such parts when said gripping members aremoved to forward position.

CHARLES M. DRINKWATER.

